title: Evaluating opportunities for text message communication: a survey of parents and teens.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Text messaging is a widespread, cost-effective method for communicating. It is widely used by both parents and teens. The study objective was to survey teens and their parents to assess the capability and willingness of teens to receive healthcare-related text messages from their physician.
  
  
  METHODS
  Parents and teens (12-17 years old) at an adolescent clinic were asked to complete surveys. Surveys were available in hard copy or electronically (via Survey Monkey) using computer kiosks in the waiting room. Approval was received from two local Institutional Review Boards.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 93 pairs who began the survey, 47 pairs (51%) qualified and completed both the teen and parent surveys. Over 85% of teens were willing to receive texts from their doctor. Teens were most interested in appointment reminders (81%), immunization reminders (53%), and general test results (for example, strep [53%]). Parents' willingness to allow teens to receive text messages directly varied by content. Many parents preferred to also receive a copy of any text message sent to their teen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both parents and teens endorse using text messages for appointment reminders. Parents appear willing for their teens to receive some health information directly. Future research should evaluate the efficacy of using text messages for communication with teens to improve care and utilization of services for adolescents.
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita , Wichita, Kansas.
authors.forename: Carolyn R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Ahlers-Schmidt
authors.forename: Jordan T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chesser
authors.forename: Kerri
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Weeks
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007615:Kansas; D008297:Male; D033282:Parental Consent; D017010:Reminder Systems; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D060145:Text Messaging